A former resurfacer attendant was fired by the Detroit Red Wings for urinating into the arena’s drainage system where zamboni ice flowed, according to documents related to a lawsuit.
According to Al Sobotka’s lawyers, the 68-year-old lost his job on February 17 following being seen by a colleague while emptying his bladder between two zambonis, out of sight public.
According to Sobotka’s lawsuit for wrongful dismissal, he has benign prostatic hyperplasia. This condition would inflict on him frequent and uncontrollable urges to urinate. Thus, the plaintiff considers that his rights would have been flouted, relying on a law of the State of Michigan, the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act.
During the incident, which took place on February 2 according to the Detroit Free Press daily, Sobotka had just cleaned the rink when he felt he had to relieve himself as soon as possible. However, he would have had to walk regarding twenty meters to reach the nearest toilet, a challenge he would have considered insurmountable.
Initially suspended for a week following meeting with his supervisor and a human resources representative, Sobotka was eventually fired. The ex-worker seeks compensation in damages as part of his lawsuit.
The plaintiff was hired at Olympia Stadium, the former home of the Red Wings, at age 17 in 1971. He has worked with the Detroit organization ever since.
